Method of applying decorative indicia to articles



P H. H. SCHARFMAN ET AL 2,037,827 7 METHOD OF APPLYING DECORATIVEINDICIA TO ARTICLES Filed Jan. 15, 1935 Patented Apr. 21, 1936 NYITEEDSTATES PAT E NT OFFICE .METHOD OF APPLYING DECORATIVE INDICIA T0ARTICLES Application January 16, 1935, .Serial N10. 2,026

.1 Claim.

'The present-invention relates-to a method of applying decorativeindicia to articles, and more particularly-to articles or objects whichmay be carried in pockets orpurses of the owners.

The present -invention,.although not limited thereto, will be herein.described in connection with a method of applying decorative indicia tocylindrical articles, such aspencils and fountain pens.

Many owners of small articles, such as pencils, pens, vanity cases andthe like are desirous of having identifying or decorative indiciaapplied to such:articles for identification or decorative purposes.

.Such articles as manufactured and sold at retailare oftentimesattractively finished and made of materials upon which it is impossibleto apply identifying or decorative indicia without destroying theappearances of such articles.

The-presentinvention has, therefore, the provision of a method ofapplying decorative or other indiciato articles in an expeditious andeconomical manner, whereby the finished article isenhancedninappearance.

Generally speaking, the method of the present invention contemplates theapplication of the indicia, such as a photograph, a name, initials orany other suitable matter, to the article in a recess or undercut madein the article and then overlaid by a transparent cover which is shapedto conform to the contour or shape of the article adjacent the recess orundercut thereby producing a pleasing finished article.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a method r of carrying out theprinciples ofthe present invention, and the views thereof are asfollows:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a pencil having decorative indicia,such as initials thereto applied, in accordance with the principles ofthe present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a fragmental portion of a pencilshowing an undercut or recess formed in it for receiving the indicia andprotective covering.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of a backing member which may beemployed in carrying out the method of. the present invention.

Figure 4 is a View of decorative indicia, in the present instance, theinitials A. J.

Figure 5 is a view of the transparent covering member.

Figure 6 is a View of the backing, the decorative indicia matter and thecovering member assembled as a unit prior to application to the article,

(Cl. LL-35) and which constitutes one manner of carrying out the presentinvention.

Figure '7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through acylindrical article showing the decorative indicia as applied to it inaccordance with the principles of the present invention, with therelative size of the parts exaggerated for clearness.

Figure 8 is a view similar'to Figure 7 with the inserted matter shapedto conform to theshape or contour of the article adjacent the appliedmatter.

The drawing will now be explained.

Illustrated in Fig. 1 is a pencil A of a well known type. This pencil.has applied to it the decorative indicia designated generally as B ofthe present invention.

In carrying out the present invention, there may be utilizedabackingmember I of any suitable materiaLalthough it is preferably desired touse a casein product for this purpose. The decorative indiciasuchas aphotograph, initials, or other suitable matter is arranged on a piece ofpaperor other suitable material. The indicia in the present instancecomprises the initials A. J. It is to be understood that the use of theinitials for illustrating the decorative matter of the present inventionhas been chosen for convenience in drawing although it is intended toemploy photographs, or other indicia as well as initials, names or thelike.

A transparent cover 3 which may be of glass, celluloid, or anitro-cellulose drivative is provided which preferably is of slightlygreater width than the backing member I.

In applying the decorative indicia of the present invention to anarticle, such for instance as the pencil A, there is formed in thearticle a recess or undercut 4, fashioned in any suitable manner. Theshape of such recess or undercut is such as to receive the backingmember I, when employed, and the cover member 3, to eliminate anyunsightly joints or spaces.

One method of practicing the present invention is to cement or otherwisesecure the backing memher I in place in the undercut 4. Atop: thisbacking member I is then applied the decorative indicia 2, cemented orotherwise secured in place, and over the indicia is: applied thetransparent cover member 3. The cover member 3 is cemented to thebacking member I by cement 5 which is applied along the margins; of thebacking member I. Preferably the: width of the decorative indicia matter2 is less than the width of the backing member I so that the assembledparts prior toshaping is that illustrated in Figure 6. After the partshave been assembled as described, the parts are then shaped in anysuitable manner so as to conform to the contour or shape or the articleadjacent the recess or undercut 4, the finished article having theappearance shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

Another manner of carrying out the method ofthe present invention is toassemble the backing member I, the indicia 2 and the cover member 3 insuperposed relation, cementing these parts together, and then applyingthe assembly as a unit to the undercut or recess 4 of the article A.Fig. 6 illustrates the assembly of these members prior to application asa unit to the article.

The appearance of the applied assembly is the same as that where thevarious members are separately applied as heretofore described and asillustrated in Fig. 7 in exaggerated size relation. After the unit hasbeen. assembled and suitably secured as by cement and placed in therecess or undercut 4, it is shaped to conform to the surface of thearticle adjacent such recess or undercut.

It will be understood that the present invention provides a novel methodof readily applying decorative or other indicia to articles in. a mannerwhich produces a pleasing finished item, and in which the manner ofapplication is: expeditious and economical.

If desired, the indicia 2 and the backing I might be made in contrastingcolors to enhance the appearance of the finished article.

NVhen a photograph is used as a decorative indicia, in place of theinitials of the indicia 2, the appearance, of course, of the finishedarticle will show the photograph through the transparent cover member 3,in the same manner as the initials appear in. the finished article, Fig.1.

While the present invention has been described in connection with theapplication of decorative indicia to a cylindrical article, such as apen or pencil, it is to be understood that the invention is not theretolimited, as it may be as readily employed in connection with theapplication of decorative or other indicia to other articles ofdifferent and other shapes.

In securing the backing member I, the indicia 2, and the cover member 3,in assembled relationship, the various members are pressed togetheruntil the cement or other securing material sets, whereupon the articleis then ready for shaping as described.

While the cover member 3 has been illustrated and described as beingslightly greater in width than the backing member I and the indicia 2,it is to be understood that these various members may be of the samewidth, if desired.

The shaping of the members is followed by or includes polishing of thetransparent cover member 3.

The decorative: indicia of the present invention may be readily appliedto cigarette holders, cigarette cases, vanities or other articles oflike nature, with equal success.

We are aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and we, therefore, do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

The invention is claimed as follows:

The method of applying decorative indicia to a cylindrical object, suchas the barrel of a fountain pen, so as to present a continuous smoothsurface to the fingers of the user of the pen, and to also protect theindicia against wear incident to the use of the pen, said methodcomprising the steps of removing a portion of the outer surface of theobject to provide a depressed area, then placing a thin member carryingindicia in the depressed area to still leave a depressed area, and thensuperimposing a layer of transparent material on said member to fillsaid depressed area and present a surface of the object continuous withthe contiguous smooth surface thereof, and made integral with saidobject.

HARRY H. SCHARFMAN. MARTIN KAMEN.

